FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. -- After about a year of negotiations, it's hoped a visit from New Brunswick's premier will help a proposal for a pipeline between Alberta and eastern Canada.

Premier David Alward arrived in Alberta Sunday for his three-day visit and headed north Monday to tour Alberta's oilsands.

The visit comes after year-long talks on proposals to bring Alberta oil east in an effort to make the resource available to more markets outside of the United States.

Recent news on the subject has revolved around the largest refinery in Canada, the Irving Refinery in St. John, N.B., which would allow Alberta oil to be processed before it's sent overseas.

"We're looking to demonstrate why we think it makes great sense for Alberta crude to be able to be supplied right across the country, including Saint John,'' Alward said Sunday night.

He also talked about the financial problems facing Alberta, and how transporting the product to his province could help landlocked Alberta deal with the "bitumen bubble.''

"Right now Alberta is not getting full value for their resource,'' Alward said. "That means every Canadian is not getting full value for the resource.

"(In order) to diversify the markets, we think New Brunswick can and needs to be part of the solution.''

The Irving Refinery processes 300,000 barrels of oil each day, but it's not working at full capacity -- it's believed it could handle up to 1,000,000 barrels each day.

The plan is in the very early stages, and must still go through the regulatory process, a process that has already begun in another high-profile pipeline proposal, the Northern Gateway Pipeline.

However, the east-bound project is expected to garner less opposition than the pipeline through British Columbia, which is still the subject of a number of protests and environmental groups petitioning against it.

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The Best Paying Jobs In The Alberta Oil Patch

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a. Occupational health and safety advisors facilitate the development, implementation and maintenance of workplace safety programs.
Occupational Health and Safety Officer
b. Occupational health and safety officers visit places of employment to detect unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing workplace safety.
According to the provincial government, on average, they make as much as $75,129 per year.

Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to determine and interpret the location of boundaries, buildings, structures and other natural or human-made features on, over or under the surface of the earth.
According to the provincial government, on average, they make as much as $79,097 per year.

Manufacturing engineers design, implement, direct and co-ordinate manufacturing system materials and processes to achieve the most efficient, cost effective and high quality production possible in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Also Known As: Engineer, Logistics Manager, Professional Engineer
On average, they start around $80,547 per year.

Industrial engineers determine the most effective ways for an organization to use its basic resources: people, machines, materials, money and time.
Also Known As: Engineer, Logistics Manager, Professional Engineer
According to the government, they make an average of $80,547 per year.

Power engineers supervise, operate and maintain machinery and boilers that provide steam, power, heat, refrigeration and other utility services to industrial and commercial facilities.
On average, they make as much as $80,735 per year.

Refinery and upgrader process operators are responsible for the day to day operations of oil refineries and upgraders.
Also Known As: Bitumen Extraction Plant Operator, Bitumen Upgrading Plant Operator, Oil Refinery Process Operator, Upgrader Process Operator
On average, they can earn as much as $81,339 per year.

Oil pipeline operators and maintenance workers monitor and conduct the day to day operations of oil pipelines and associated facilities.
Also Known As: Equipment Operator, Gauger, Tank Farm Operator.
They can make, on average, as much as $81,339 per year.

Oil pipeline control centre operators use sophisticated computerized equipment to monitor and control pipeline activities for large regions (for example, all of Alberta and British Columbia) from one centralized control centre.
On average, they can make as much as $81,339 per year.

Gas plant operators control automated processes that convert raw natural gas into forms that can be used by consumers.
On average, they can make as much as $81,339 per year.

Gas pipeline operators and maintenance workers monitor the day to day operations of meter and compressor stations essential to the distribution and smooth flow of gas through pipelines.
Also Known As: Control Room Operator, Gas Compressor Operator
They can make on average $81,339 per year.

Oil and gas production accountants track and analyze production data, calculate revenue and royalties associated with properties owned by oil companies, and ensure reporting requirements are met.
On average, they make as much as $81,135 per year.

Field production operators are responsible for the initial separation processes or the special treatment required to ensure that impurities such as water, gas and sediments are removed from oil and gas in the field. Once separated, the oil or gas is transported by pipeline to refineries, gas plants or markets.
On average they make $81,622 per year.

Chemical engineers conduct research; develop and optimize processes; design and select equipment; and provide technical and management services for plants that convert raw materials into a wide range of end products (for example, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food products, fuels, plastics, metals).
Can make on average $103,425 per year.

Petroleum engineers are involved in the exploration and development of oil and gas. They apply the principles of geology, physics, chemistry and engineering sciences to the recovery of petroleum and natural gas from conventional reservoirs and oil sands.
Average salary per year is $106,000.

Hydrologists study the occurrence, distribution, circulation and properties of water in the atmosphere, on the Earth's surface, and in soil and underlying rocks.
On average, they make as much as $110,747 per year. (Photo source FortGirl

Geologists apply their knowledge of the Earth's crust in exploring for minerals and hydrocarbons (for example, oil and gas), developing resources for production, building engineering foundations and stable slopes, and finding and evaluating ground water supplies. They make an average of $110,747 per year.

Geophysicists use the principles of physics, mathematics and geology to study the surface and internal composition of the earth. Exploration geophysicists look for oil, natural gas, water and minerals for commercial and environmental projects.
On Average, they make as much as $110,747 per year.

Geotechnical engineers assess the natural foundations for engineering projects that are supported by rock or soil. They plan and supervise geological data acquisition and analysis, and prepare engineering designs, reports and recommendations.
On average, they make as much as $111,784 per year.

Geomatics engineers gather, model, analyze and manage spatially referenced data (information identified according to location).
On average, they make as much as $164,400 per year

Snubbing services operators and supervisors insert and remove drill pipe, tubing and specialized equipment into and from oil and gas wells when blowout preventers are closed to contain well pressure.
Incomes for snubbing services operators and supervisors range from $60,000 a year to $180,000 a year (2009 estimate).

Oil and gas well drilling and service rig managers supervise large crews of specialized workers on drilling and service rigs.
Drilling rig managers typically are paid a day rate. Depending on location and hours of service, service rig managers may be paid a day rate or an hourly rate. A drilling rig manager who works 200 days a year could realize potential earnings from $175,000 and $250,000 a year (2009 estimate). A service rig manager, who is not required to travel and work away from home in the same way a drilling rig manager is expected to, will earn somewhat less.